Zahrah Koch, "Girl"

Girl, stand up straight. Draw your shoulders back. Push out your chest. You should not have to

move for someone who thinks they are better. Look ahead. Look past anything in your way and stare at the horizon. Stare at your goal, where

you want to end up. Past the people, past the obstacles. Set your jaw with this power, it will show in your face. This determination will reveal your strength. Walk straight. Do not stray from the path. Walk strong, because those legs you have are strong.

They have carried you this far, and they will carry you farther. Walk with purpose even if you feel as if you have none. Do not budge for anyone. You are strong, stronger than you realize. You hold something that no

one else will ever come close to holding. Do not be ashamed for the space that you occupy. Own it.

Girl, set your jaw. Take everything that has ever set fire to your heart and hold it there. Take everyone that has ever

angered you and hold that anger, that power, in your chest. They will scatter from your path like creatures before a hurricane. They will split like you are a

wildfire blazing in front of them. Girl, you are a storm, howling winds and electric clouds, your eyes darker than a thundering sky. They will sense your danger.

Girl, those guys on the street don’t mean shit. They are nothing compared to you. Do not let them scare you. Do not let them intimidate you

into being something small, because you are not small. Girl, walk straight. Walk strong. If they bump into you, then so be it. If they stumble trying to

move out of your way, do not feel sorry. They should know better than to walk in your path.

You are power. You are a brewing storm that has yet to set itself on this world. If they think they

can scare you into being something that you are not, then show them that you will not falter. You are stronger than they realize.

Zahrah Koch is a writer and an English student at Michigan State University. When not studying or writing they enjoy talking about Shakespeare, thrift shopping, and drinking lots of coffee. Zahrah lives in northern Michigan.